Monday, May 16, 2011
Gulf News
Dubai The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) announced yesterday that it has completed the second stage of its international campaign to strengthen relationships with clients which plan to grow their business in the region.
A DIFC delegation recently visited potential clients in the United States and Brazil to discuss how the finance centre can be used to exploit business opportunities in the region.
“There is strong interest from companies in the US and Brazil in capturing the next wave of growth in emerging markets using DIFC as a vantage point to access business opportunities in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia,” said Abdullah Mohammad Al Awar, CEO of DIFC Authority.
“The International Monetary Fund [IMF] expects MENA economies to grow by 4.1 per cent in 2011, despite the recent regional events. In addition, structural reforms are planned to increase the participation of private sector, particularly in infrastructure and development projects. These are expected to boost economic growth still further,” said Al Awar.
In the US, the DIFC dele-gation met selected companies in multiple states and covering a range of sectors including financial services, insurance, and professional services. Currently, there are more than 100 US firms operating in the centre, occupying roughly 13 per cent of the office space in the DIFC’s Gate District.
In Brazil, DIFC held a series of meetings in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo. Brazilian exports to the region reached $870 million in March, a 35.5 per cent increase over the same month last year.
Staff Report
Gulf News 2011. All rights reserved.
